“Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues…” (Revelation 18:4-8, NASB)

There are many shocking things in the Bible, but the words in today’s passage are one of the most shocking ones. Read it for yourself and see if it doesn’t shock you, too. It says,

“I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’’ For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.’”

This is indeed a shocking statement that we read in today’s passage. An angel cried out, “Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues.” The “her” in this passage is talking about Babylon the Great, the Great Harlot, which will be judged by God in the Great Tribulation Period for her wickedness. According to Revelation 17:18, this “harlot” is revealed as the “great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Also, remember that the harlot was the one who was sitting on top of the beast, the antichrist, who had seven heads and ten horns, and the same one with whom the kings and merchants of the earth committed acts of immorality (Rev.17:7-14). If you can think of the most wicked and evil city in the whole world, it would pale in comparison to Babylon the Great. Yet, despite being so wicked and evil, an angel called out, “Come out of her, my people?”

Apparently, some believers will reside in that city in the future, and they will be reminded that they do not belong there and need to come out of it. The words “my people” can both refer to Israel or Christians, depending upon how you interpret the visions of the Revelation. However you choose to interpret it, the fact remains—there were God’s people residing in Babylon the Great. A similar story took place during the time of Abraham when God sent His angels to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his family lived in the city, and through Abraham’s intercession, the angels tried to rescue them before the judgment came. Using this story, Jesus warned his disciples, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Lk.17:32). In a way, they were being told, “Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues.”

Also, today, we have so many Christians living among the wicked and participating in their evil deeds who need to be reminded of these words of warning. Christians who do not take heed of this warning are described by Paul, “If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor.3:13-15). The words of Jude, the brother of Jesus, are shocking as well. He writes, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh” (Jude 1:20-23).

These words are shocking to me because it shows the reality that Christians, who have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, are living and participating in the wickedness of the spirit of Babylon. It shows that they are fellowshipping, aligning, and even joining the blasphemous deeds of the Great Harlot and the Beast that carries her. They will participate in drinking and being drunk with the blood of the saints, and committing acts of immorality with her. In those days, God will command one of His angels to bring His people out of the great city of Babylon. How embarrassing will it be for those believers on that day! Today, God has commanded His church to go into all the world preaching His words, nation by nation, city by city, village by village, home to home. And our message should be in unison: “Come out of her, God’s people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive her plagues. Come out now and be separate!”

• How does it make you feel knowing that there will be God’s people living in the city of Great Babylon, and participating in the immorality and wickedness of the Antichrist?
• What should be our message as Christians to other believers who participate in the spirit of the antichrist and the Great Harlot?